Las Cruces Things to Do & Events to Meet New Friends

December 11, 2025 ~ Shari Rose

Just moved to Las Cruces and want to meet new people? Or have you lived in town for years and want to expand your local network? If making new friends in the area isn’t exactly something that comes naturally, you’re not alone in that struggle. Luckily, Las Cruces has no shortage of nearby things to do, events and activities that provide ample opportunity for getting out there and meeting new people.

From adult sports leagues to weekly D&D campaigns, pottery workshops to improv classes, New Mexico’s second-largest city has got you covered. Whatever your passion or interest may be, there’s a very good chance Las Cruces has the outlet you need to enjoy something you love and meet equally enthusiastic friends at the same time.

This activity guide is by no means an exhaustive list of things to do in the city, so if you feel we’ve missed an event that should be included, let us know at [email protected].

• Creative Activities & Classes
• Geek & Fandom
• Athletics & Group Sports
• Performing Arts
• LGBTQ+ Groups
• Alcohol-Centered Events
• Religious Group Events

Creative Activities & Classes

Prefer to put your hands to work and make something unique? Arts and crafts workshops are an excellent way to meet new people while crafting a handmade piece to take home or even sell. Here are a few creative activities and classes you can consider joining in town.

Las Cruces Craft Workshops – From candle making to watercolor painting, loom weaving to block printing, the Las Cruces Craft Workshops group hosts a large variety of creative workshops for folks to meet new friends and make something beautiful. Located at the Assembly Craft Studio in Mesilla, these hands-on activities require pre-registration on MeetUp but are open to the public.

Cruces Creatives – A 12,000 square foot facility located downtown, Cruces Creatives includes a textile lab, wood shop, AV lab, 3D printers and CAD manufacturing tools that allows creatives to come together and pursue whichever art medium they wish. To learn more about things to do in the space and how to become a member, visit crucescreatives.org.

Potters’ Guild of Las Cruces – Open to first-time pottery enthusiasts and highly experienced clay artists alike, the Potters’ Guild of Las Cruces hosts workshops, painting parties and outdoor market events for local potters to exhibit their creations. Members are invited to attend monthly meetings at the DACC Ceramics Studio as well. Get details on how to join online or see their latest events in town.

Las Cruces Clay & Studio – For those who want to learn pottery wheel and hand building techniques in New Mexico, this nearby studio offers 5-week-long classes at their location on E Lohman Ave. Activities open to all experience levels. Check out the studio’s available classes to get started.

Crochet Club – Meeting at the Textile Lab at Cruces Creatives every Thursday, the Crochet Club welcomes both brand-new and experienced crocheters to work on their own projects or pursue one of the group’s designs. Non-members of Cruces Creatives are asked to make a donation to join.

Be Sew Creative – A longtime shop providing sewing, quilting and embroidery supplies, Be Sew Creative features a wide array of classes and events throughout the year for sewing enthusiasts to level up their skills. Take a look at their open classes in Las Cruces to get involved.

Geek & Fandom

Looking for an outlet to let your geek flag fly and make friends who totally get it? You won’t have to search for long in this town before meeting your future crew in the fandom space.

Tabletop Games

Zia Comics – For weekly Magic the Gathering and general game nights, Zia Comics hosts 4-hour tournaments every weekend at its shop in Downtown Las Cruces. Make new friends with fellow Planeswalkers for $6 per night or join a free game night on Saturdays to learn a new tabletop game. Check Zia Comics’ calendar for its monthly events and things to do.

Geek Shack – A sizable hobby store on N Solano Dr, Geek Shack features wide-ranging tournaments for tabletop and trading card games every week. These include Warhammer, Pokemon League, Riftbound, Avatar the Last Airbender, One Piece and a whole lot more. Head to Geek Shack’s Facebook for the latest tournaments, activities and events.

Dungeons & Dragons Campaigns – The Thomas Branigan Memorial Library hosts weekly D&D sessions for like-minded gamers in LC to meet and embark on campaigns together. All tables are currently full, but the library welcomes interested participants to join their waitlist as they add more tables. To get involved, visit the D&D waitlist page here.

Las Cruces Board Gamers – To make new friends while playing modern board games at NMSU’s Corbett Center, the Las Cruces Board Gamers MeetUp group gets together every Thursday night. Open to all adults who are willing to learn new games and have fun together. Check out their MeetUp page to see upcoming game nights and things to do.

Cruces Chess Club – Meeting once a week at different breweries and bars in the city, the Cruces Chess Club welcomes community members to connect with fellow players and have fun playing chess. The group provides boards and timers. Take a look where their next chess event will be hosted to get involved.

Book Clubs

Cruces Silent Book Club – Bring any book you’d like and meet with local literary lovers at Icebox Brewhouse every third Thursday of the month. The Cruces Silent Book Club encourages folks to meet one another by first reading their selected work silently for a while then chatting about it with a like-minded bibliophile. Check out the group’s Instagram for activity details.

Branigan Book Club – Catching up once a month in the Kiva Room at the Thomas Branigan Memorial Library, this club discusses one new book during each meeting. No registration required to join. Visit the Las Cruces Public Libraries’ calendar to see this month’s reading.

Athletics & Group Sports

If you socialize best while getting a good workout at the same time, you’re in luck in Las Cruces. Whether you want to join a running club, play ultimate frisbee, go hiking with friends or just enjoy the natural splendor of New Mexico, there’s a group here for you.

Hiking & Walking

Jornada Hiking & Outdoors Club – For hikes in Gila Wilderness, Deming, Alamogordo, Ruidoso and neighboring areas in Las Cruces, this group joins together multiple times a month to explore the outdoors and meet new people. Check out the Jornada Hiking & Outdoors Club page on MeetUp to get involved in future events.

Las Cruces Short Hikes – Another MeetUp group that’s specifically designed for novice hikers in NM, Las Cruces Short Hikes tends to embark on easier hikes around town. They meet on weekend mornings and say explicitly that these hikes are slow-paced with frequent breaks.

HikerBabes Las Cruces – Looking for things to do with a nearby women-only hiking group? HikerBabes has a Las Cruces chapter for nature-loving women to explore the outdoors and build a positive support system for each other. Visit their Facebook group to learn about upcoming activities.

Las Cruces Walk and Talk – To enjoy easy walks around La Lorena Park in the New Mexico sunshine and meet new friends at the same time, the LC Walk and Talk group on MeetUp might be right up your alley. They get together every Saturday at 9:00am at the bandstand in Old Mesilla Plaza.

Running Clubs

Las Cruces Roadrunners – An online community of local runners, the Las Cruces Roadrunners welcome participants of all experience and fitness levels to go for group runs around the city and on hiking trails. Take a look at the Roadrunners’ public Facebook group for the latest running events in the area.

Bluebird’s Weekly Runs – Hosted by the Bluebird Running Company on Main St, group runs around downtown begin from their store at 6:00pm every Tuesday. Runners are welcome to complete as many loops as they wish from Water St to Bowman, Church St and back to Water St. Head over to Visit Las Cruces for more details on Bluebird’s weekly runs.

Biking Clubs

Bike & Chowder Club – To join a group of recreational bicyclists that ride throughout Las Cruces, the Bike & Chowder Club offers near-daily rides in town. They split into two groups: Group A for more serious riders that enjoy at 16 – 20 MPH pace, and Group B for more social bicyclists that reach a pace of 12 – 15 MPH. Learn more about their biking routes and schedules here.

Outdoor Adventures – A mountain biking shop on Missouri Ave in Las Cruces, Outdoor Adventures also hosts group rides through the city and on local trails. Check out the shop’s Facebook page for upcoming rides.

Group Sports

Adult Leagues – The City of Las Cruces offers a wide variety of adult sports leagues that are either co-ed or women’s only. Some leagues require pre-registration while other sports programs have daily drop-in sessions. For drop-in sports like pickleball, basketball or volleyball, rates range from $1 – $2 per person, per session. Take a look at the full league offerings on their Adults Recreation page. For local swimmers hoping to reserve lap lanes, the Regional Aquatic Center charges $2 per hour of use.

Las Cruces Ultimate Frisbee – Hoping to play some ultimate and make new friends? The Las Cruces Ultimate Frisbee group opens up pickup games to everyone regardless of experience level. No registration required to join. Visit their Facebook group to see their upcoming games at Sisbarro Park.

Mesilla Valley Soccer League – Open to all levels of experience, the Mesilla Valley Soccer League plays three seasons per year and hosts leagues for Men’s, Women’s and Co-Ed for players over the age of 40. Each game is supported by licensed referees. Learn about how you can get involved and register as a player on the MVSL website.

Organ Mountains Pickleball Club – For both outdoor and indoor pickleball games in Las Cruces, the Organ Mountains Pickleball Club offers ongoing events and tournaments throughout the year. Membership registration is required to participate in most events, but not all. Visit the Organ Mountains’ online calendar to see their upcoming pickleball activities.

New Mexico Banitas – A semi-professional women’s tackle football team based in Las Cruces, the New Mexico Banitas typically practice at the NMSU Horseshoe and play games at Bear Stadium in Cloudcroft. They are part of the world’s largest women’s football league, the Women’s Football Alliance, and wrapped up their first season in the WFA’s Division 2 earlier this year. To learn more about tryouts and upcoming games, check out the Banitas’ Facebook group.

Performing Arts

Hoping to set your inner theater kid free? Whether you’ve recently moved to NM or have lived here for years, you can meet up with your fellow thespians in town and get involved with these theater activities.

Las Cruces Community Theater – Located on N Main St, the Las Cruces Community Theater puts on multiple musicals throughout the year, with the average show running between 2 – 4 weeks. For details regarding auditions, volunteering opportunities, weekend events and other ways to engage, visit lcctnm.org.

Black Box Theater – Home to the No Strings Theatre Company, the Black Box Theater is a smaller performing arts venue that puts on two-week-long productions that range from horror to comedy, and everything in between. It also hosts the Super Secret Improv Show, which is live improvisational theater.

LGBTQ+ Groups

If you’re looking to make queer friends and find things to do with the LGBTQ+ community here in Las Cruces, here are a few welcoming groups to get you started.

Gay Las Cruces – With a highly active Facebook presence and more than 3,000 members, Gay Las Cruces works to keep members informed of queer-friendly events happening around the city, as well as provide a forum for LGBTQ+ locals to share news relevant to the community.

PFLAG Las Cruces – This advocacy group is dedicated to supporting the LGBTQ+ community throughout Southern New Mexico through educational events, workshops, support groups and more. Take a look at PFLAG’s events on their Facebook page, or join as a volunteer.

Singing Out Las Cruces – Founded in 2011, Singing Out Las Cruces is a LGBTQ+ and ally choral group that performs multiple concerts throughout the year. It invites singers of varying singing experience, and does not require you to know how to read sheet music. Learn more about how you can join SOLC, New Mexico’s first LGBTQ+ mixed voice choir.

LGBT+ Programs at NMSU – Operational through the academic year, LGBT+ Programs provides a welcoming space for NMSU students, staff and alumni to connect and make new friends. Includes activities like weekly student group meetings and a queer-themed library for books and movies.

LGBTQ+ Friendly Restaurants & Bars – Recently moved to Las Cruces and looking for local businesses where you can be yourself without judgement? Here’s a few queer-friendly restaurants and bars in town to check off your list.

Alcohol-Centered Events

For those who want to blow off a little steam and show off some niche skills at the same time, this city features a wide array of things to do at nearby bars, such as trivia, open mic and karaoke events. You can enjoy a libation or two and make new friends in the process at these establishments.

Bar Trivia, Open Mic & Karaoke

Little Toad Creek – A staple of Downtown Las Cruces, Little Toad Creek hosts a ton of fun events throughout the month, from trivia nights to music bingo, spelling bee competitions to dance parties. Take a look at their upcoming events online to make a plan for your next visit.

Rad Retrocade – Located just a few steps away from Little Toad, Rad Retrocade is an arcade bar complete with a dance floor and kitchen. To meet new people at a future DJ night, karaoke event, bar trivia and more, head to Rad’s Instagram.

NM Vintage – For an evening that’s a little more low-key, NM Vintage is a winery in Mesilla that provides live music and open mic nights. See their full line-up of entertainment activities on their Events page.

Paint & Sip

Wet Paint Art Studio – Hoping to make friends over wine and a little painting? Wet Paint Art Studio offers paint & sip events at local bars across Las Cruces. Requires prior registration to join. Take a peek at upcoming paint & sips at Wet Paint’s adult classes page.

Religious Group Events

If you’re hoping to connect more deeply with fellow religious folks in town, here are a few organizations in Las Cruces that host community events open to the public.

Unitarian Universalist Church of Las Cruces – Located on S Solano Dr, this Unitarian Universalist church features a diverse mix of daily classes, from tai chi to sound meditation, yoga to aikido. Here’s their full calendar of events.

Temple Beth-El – This temple on Sonoma Springs Ave hosts many Jewish classes and events throughout the month, as well as exercise classes such as Tai Chi. Here’s Temple Beth-El’s calendar of things to do.

Southern New Mexico Islamic Center – Located on E Boutz Rd in Las Cruces, this mosque offers special events throughout the year, including food fundraisers and cultural learning experiences. Take a look at SNMIC’s Facebook to learn more about upcoming activities.

Still not sure what to do over the weekend? You can’t go wrong with the farmer’s markets in Las Cruces and Old Mesilla to enjoy a little New Mexico sunshine and browse wares from local artisans.

Maybe you’ve recently moved to the state or you’ve lived in LC for years and want to grow your network. Regardless, it can be challenging for anyone to meet new people and make friends, but there’s opportunities galore for you to connect in this community. All it takes is a little leap of faith to see what’s out there waiting for you.